Vanbrugh, Philip (?-1753)

Governor, 1738

Possibly born in England, VanBrugh served in the Royal Navy as captain of the Speedwell
in 1710. He later served in Gibraltar, among other commands. In 1738 he was appointed
governor of Newfoundland. He is noted for recording information about the nature of the fishery
and tallying the inhabitants of Twillingate and Fogo. VanBrugh was authorized to hold court of
oyer and terminer, but this was retracted by the Privy Council. He stayed for one season and
returned to England after an uneventful term.

Residing in Plymouth, VanBrugh was appointed a Commissioner of the Navy in 1739, a
position that he retained until his death in 1753.